Automate certificate renewals with AutoCert powered by Aguru

Chris Horroll
Chris Horroll
  • Updated

AutoCert is part of Alto Intelligence - Alto's suite of AI capabilities.

Powered by Aguru, it automates the full certificate renewal process inside Alto. Running behind the scenes, AutoCert handles the 10+ steps involved in every renewal - from detecting expiring certificates and coordinating suppliers, landlords and tenants, to validating documents, raising charges and updating records - with property managers in control and a full audit trail.

At launch, AutoCert handles gas safety certificates, with support for other certificate types planned.

What are the benefits of integrating Aguru?

  • Automatic detection of expiring certificates - Never miss a renewal date; reduced compliance risk; no reliance on spreadsheets or diary reminders
  • Automated coordination of suppliers, landlords and tenants - Significantly reduced administrative burden; faster turnaround; certificates back on file sooner
  • Certificate validation and processing inside Alto - Returned certificates checked and attached to the property record; renewal dates reset automatically; invalid documents rejected without manual escalation
  • Work orders, invoices and charges handled in Alto - Less manual data entry; a single, up-to-date source of truth; the loop closed without extra admin
  • Autonomous but observable, with humans in the loop - Property managers stay in control; exceptions escalated with full context; a clear, defensible audit trail across every renewal
  • Grow your managed portfolio without growing your admin team - Scale certificate renewals across the portfolio without adding headcount

Setting up the integration

If you would like to request access, whether you're an existing Aguru customer or new to AutoCert:

  1. Click Integrations on the main navigation bar
  2. Click the Compliance category
  3. Below AutoCert powered by Aguru, click Tell me more
    1. If you're an existing Aguru customer and want to integrate your account with Alto, click Integrate AutoCert powered by Aguru. Slide the toggle indicating you have an account and select the branches you'd like to activate. Then, click Integrate, at which point your request will be sent

To check on the status of your integration request and whether it's activated within Alto, you can view the Tell me more > Integrate page. 

integration request activation 2.png

Here, within the Branch integration section, you can view a Sent date alongside the available branches you have access to - this is the date upon which an activation email was sent to the partner.

Once your request is activated, Aguru will email you a link to complete a short, guided configuration. This is where you set AutoCert up for your agency - for example, choosing which properties are included, when it checks for renewals, your branding and email wording, escalation timings and how invoices are handled. Configuration is a one-off step; once it's complete, AutoCert runs inside Alto and your team doesn't need to return to it.

How does the integration work?

AutoCert runs four operational stages automatically inside Alto, and you can follow each one on the property Timeline and work orders as it happens.

Detect - AutoCert continuously monitors your portfolio and flags certificates approaching their renewal date, based on the advance window you've configured.

Coordinate - It automatically determines who is responsible for the renewal based on whether the property is fully managed or let-only, raises the Alto work order, and contacts the relevant supplier, landlord and tenant with automated messages, reminders and follow-ups, following the cadences you've set. For let-only properties, it can first offer the renewal to the landlord and proceed based on their response.

Process - When the certificate is returned, AutoCert validates it against the requirements (for example, checking the address and details are correct) and rejects anything invalid with a request for the correct document. The validated certificate is attached to the property record, the renewal date is reset, and - depending on your configuration - the invoice is uploaded and charges raised in Alto.

Track - Throughout, you have real-time visibility of workflow status, escalations and completed actions. Everything AutoCert does, including the emails it sends, is added to the property Timeline in Alto. If something falls outside the defined workflow, AutoCert escalates it to the right property manager with full context rather than letting it drop.

Because everything is written back into Alto, your team continues working as they normally would while AutoCert handles the renewal process in the background. Renewal dates update automatically, so a completed certificate simply drops off your list of outstanding renewals.

An example renewal

The following shows how a single gas safety renewal appears on the property Timeline from start to finish. In this example, the property is managed and has no current tenants, so the supplier is asked to contact the property manager to arrange access.

AutoCert sends a courtesy email to the landlord to let them know the certificate is due and that an engineer will be arranged as part of the managed service. Once the renewal proceeds, a works order is created.

Autocert Courtesy email to the landlord and works order created on the Alto timeline.png

AutoCert then emails the supplier to offer them the job, with Accept Work Order and Decline Work Order options. When the supplier accepts, the works order status updates from New Request to Supplier Instructed.

Autocert Supplier instruction email and works order status changed to Supplier Instructed.png

After the inspection, AutoCert emails the supplier to request the completed certificate, and separately requests the invoice. Once the certificate is returned, a copy is distributed to the landlord confirming the property is compliant.

Autocert Certificate distributed to the landlord and certificate requested from the supplier on the timeline.png

When the invoice is received, the works order status updates again - here to Complete Invoicing Received.

Autocert Works order status changed to Complete Invoicing Received.png

Opening the works order shows the full record: the validated certificate under Documents, the Access Details, and - if you've enabled the raise charge and invoice service in AutoCert - a View Charge option.

Autocert Edit Works Order screen showing the certificate under Documents, access details and View Charge option.png
Autocert View Charge option.png

What this means day-to-day

Renewals start earlier and progress on their own, so certificates come back on file sooner and your team spends far less time chasing suppliers, landlords and tenants. Property managers handle the exceptions that genuinely need a decision, rather than the repetitive admin around every renewal.

If you need to keep a specific property out of the automated process, you can opt it out using the AutoCert checkbox on the property record, so you retain full control over what AutoCert handles.

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